This randomized controlled study evaluates the effects of early mobilization and early oral feeding, two components of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, on postoperative outcomes in adult patients with lung cancer undergoing lobectomy at Ege University Hospital.
Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. In addition to standard postoperative care, participants in the intervention group received an ERAS-based protocol consisting of sitting at the bedside approximately 5.5 hours after surgery, beginning mobilization at 6 hours, and walking at least 100 meters when clinically stable and approved by the surgical team. Oral water intake was started at 6 hours, followed by a full liquid diet at 7 hours and gradual transition to a regular diet at 12 hours if tolerated. Participants in the control group received the clinic's standard postoperative care.
The study compares postoperative pain, complications, chest tube duration, length of hospital stay, reoperation, readmission within 30 days, nutritional status, laboratory findings, and quality of life between the two groups. Participants are followed for up to three months after surgery.
Inclusion Criteria:
Diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of lung cancer
Scheduled to undergo lobectomy
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1
Voluntary agreement to participate and ability to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
Metastatic disease
Severe uncontrolled comorbid disease, including cardiac, renal, or hepatic failure
Requirement for mechanical ventilation for 24 hours or longer
History of cranial trauma
Requirement for prolonged bed rest
Local peripheral neuropathy or central nervous system disease
Cognitive or communication impairment
Participants received the clinic's standard postoperative care plus an ERAS-based early mobilization and oral feeding protocol. When hemodynamically stable and with approval from the surgical team, participants sat at the bedside approximately 5.5 hours after surgery for 30 minutes, began mobilization at 6 hours, and walked at least 100 meters. Oral water intake began at 6 hours, followed by a full liquid diet at 7 hours and gradual transition to a regular diet at 12 hours if tolerated.
Participants received the clinic's standard postoperative care without the additional ERAS-based early mobilization and early oral feeding protocol. Routine care included postoperative monitoring, oxygen support as required, assessment of vital signs, drainage, respiratory function and pain, and coughing and breathing exercises. A liquid diet was initiated at 06:00 on the morning after surgery, and mobilization was performed according to the participant's hemodynamic condition and approval from the surgical team.
Izmir, 35100, Turkey (Türkiye)
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